The European Union The View from the USA. The Problem We are emerging from a long period usually called the “Cold War” During this time, Europe and the.

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Presentation on theme: "The European Union The View from the USA. The Problem We are emerging from a long period usually called the “Cold War” During this time, Europe and the."— Presentation transcript:

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The Problem We are emerging from a long period usually called the “Cold War” During this time, Europe and the US had a common enemy, and so, were linked in a common purpose. This was never a common identity

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1989--1990 With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, there was no real need for the Transatlantic Alliance, or NATO It was at that moment that everyone rushed to join NATO.

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US Support for EEC/EU A strong economy, plus NATO, were seen by the US as essential to prevent the further expansion of Communism Hence Marshall Plan and support of Treaty of Rome, 1957 The US view was that it was better to have the line of Containment with Communism in Europe than in the USA

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The “Transatlantic Alliance?” It never existed, because the US does not make alliances, only coalitions as needed. True, it lasted a long time, and began to seem like a “normal” state of affairs. Not to the USA `Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world; Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies. --

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So why does NATO Persist? First, nobody knows what to do with it. Second, the US pays over 80% of the bills, and controls the air transport and smart weapons As long as there is NATO, there can be no EU counterbalance to US

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Unilateralism The US can afford to be Unilateral because its defense budget is bigger than the next 18 combined. Also, there is nobody to challenge it, because Europe has to work multilaterally, and that can be ignored (Iraq)

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Afghanistan and Iraq In Afghanistan, NATO invoked Clause 5; the US did not respond Instead it built a Coalition of all sorts of unlikely places In Iraq, the US bypassed NATO totally, and built another coalition that divided Europe.

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Team Player? The United States has never been a team player for several reasons. The sacred role of the Constitution means that nothing can challenge the sovereignty of the country or the Liberty of its citizens. This is one reason why it has a hard time with multi-lateral organizations.

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The Future Healthy competition in trade Imbalance in foreign policy and no counterbalance to US unless EU becomes a state and adopts its Constitution.

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Enigma Henry Kissinger said over 30 years ago: “When I call Europe, to whom do I speak?” That is still true today, because although the EU has many of the attributes of a state, it is not one.

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So, does the US belong anywhere? It has always regarded the Hemisphere as its area of interest The Monroe Doctrine, however, is widely misunderstood. NAFTA  FTAA??

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War on Terror Many of the ‘terrorists” had a connection with Europe, particularly Germany.